Cleveland Browns: Three Jacksonville Jaguars to be concerned with
By Sam Penix
1. Myles Jack, Linebacker
The Browns decided not to bring back linebacker Joe Schobert, who left in free agency to join Jacksonville. Playing behind a subpar defensive line, Schobert is having the worst season of his NFL career, so it’s surprising to see Myles Jack, who is in the first year of a four-year $57 million contract, having his best season. Jack fell to the second round of the 2016 draft due to concerns about his knee cartilage and how long he’d be able to hold up in the NFL, but he’s shown no signs of an early demise.
Jack had a bit of a down year in 2019, as he missed five games due to a knee injury (a separate issue, not his degenerative condition). He’s also missed two games this season, but in the eight he’s been on the field, he’s made plays everywhere. Jack was a consensus top-10 player in the 2016 class, and he’s finally showing why. His play against the run is much improved, and he has the range and athletic ability to function as a pseudo-slot corner.
He’s the kind of player you can easily see grabbing an interception on a disguised coverage look, something Baker Mayfield has not been able to diagnose at this point in his career. The Jags may be in a tanking phase, but Jack is still one of the NFL’s best linebackers with the ability to change a game.
Next. Wentz nosedive necessitates caution with Baker’s future. dark
Last week had the makings of a trap game, but the Browns took care of business. They’ll have to do the same this week, and cannot afford to take this Jaguars team lightly, no matter what their record is.